Retail display arrangement

ABSTRACT

The present arrangement includes a plurality of substantially identical thermoformed shelves, each constructed with a surface and four legs. Any two of the plurality of shelves are such that the four legs of any one shelf are constructed to mate with the four legs of any other shelf. Any two of the plurality of shelves are such that the surface of one shelf mates against the surface of another of any one of the shelves. The arrangement is constructed with at least two of the plurality of shelves are arranged leg to leg and at least two of the plurality of shelves are arranged surface to surface.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/529,182, filed on Jul. 6, 2017, the entirety of whichis incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This application relates to a retail display arrangement. Moreparticularly, the present application relates a multi-part retaildisplay arrangement using interchangeable thermoformed polymercomponents.

Description of Related Art

Existing multi-tiered retail displays units are designed to provide highvisibility to retail products displayed thereon. These prior artdisplays are usually of a more permanent nature such as 360 degreemulti-tiered product displays made from rigid injection molded plasticor otherwise using combinations of metal, wood, and glass. These typesof display come with a significant cost, are heavy and bulky to ship,and require special handling if shipped assembled or even when shippeddisassembled. These also have expensive tooling costs and are timeconsuming to produce them.

A second prior art option for retail display arrangements is to use acorrugated (cardboard/opaque) displays. With corrugated materials alarge amount of product visibility is lost as typically two of the foursides need to be solid surfaces (for structural stability) and thus theydo not provide 360 degree visibility or accessibility. These corrugatedcardboard displays also tend to be shipped fully assembled, as theywould otherwise require a training period to be able to assemble themsuccessfully.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

The present arrangement provides for a modular multi-part retail displayarrangement that provides a full 360 degree view of and access to theproducts displayed thereon. The components of the display arethermoformed and constructed with vacuum tooling, preferably formed fromthermoformed recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic whichcommonly comes from recycled beverage bottles. This arrangement usesinexpensive vacuum form tooling with quick to market thermomanufacturingprocesses to provide a multi-tiered product display with stackable andeasily interchangeable tiered shelving units. The entire arrangement mayshipped in a small box and easily re-assembled to provide a 360 degreeaccessible tiered product shelf.

To this end the present arrangement includes a plurality ofsubstantially identical thermoformed shelves, each constructed with asurface and four legs. Any two of the plurality of shelves are such thatthe four legs of any one shelf are constructed to mate with the fourlegs of any other shelf. Any two of the plurality of shelves are suchthat the surface of one shelf mates against the surface of another ofany one of the shelves. The arrangement is constructed with at least twoof the plurality of shelves are arranged leg to leg and at least two ofthe plurality of shelves are arranged surface to surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be best understood through the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the display components in a shipping box and anexploded view of the box components and display components in accordancewith one embodiment;

FIGS. 2A-2D show a stabilization unit for the shipping box in accordancewith one embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3C show the insertion of the stabilization unit back into theshipping box so that it can be used as the base for the display, inaccordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a first thermoformed display shelf being arrangedon the shipping box, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a second display shelf inverted and rotated 180degrees then placed on the first display shelf forming a first displaylevel, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a third thermoformed display shelf being arrangedon the first display level, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 7A and 7B show successive thermoformed display levels being addedto the assembly, in accordance with one embodiment; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a top display card being added to the top of thedisplay arrangement, in accordance with one embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b , a retail displayarrangement 10 is provided in a condensed form in its own shipping box12. Shipping box 12 doubles as both a shipping/storage box as well as abase for arrangement 10 as explained in more detail below.

FIGS. 2a-2d show a stabilization element 14 that is a multi-partinterfitted support that forms a stability enhancement for box 12. Asshown in FIGS. 3a-3c , once stabilization elements 14 are connected toone another in the shape of an “X”, they are re-inserted into box 12 andthe lids of box 12 are closed to form the base for arrangement 10.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show a first thermoformed display shelf 16 havingsurface 20 and four legs 22 (as shown also in FIG. 1b ). Surface 20 isshown in the figures as being flat, but it is understood that shelfsurface 20 may be constructed in other shapes and/or with the inclusionof surface features to assist with product display.

In FIG. 4b , a first shelf 16 is placed surface 20 down, legs 22 up, onthe top of box 12. In one arrangement, the corners of box 12 may havelocking tabs 40 to secure shelf 16 thereon.

As shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b , a subsequent thermoformed shelf 16 isstacked on top of the first shelf 16, legs 22 down, to attach to legs 22projecting upward from first shelf 16. As shown in FIG. 1b , each shelf16 is essentially identical so to form a tier level of arrangement 10,two identical shelves are stacked, legs-to-legs. In one arrangement, asshown in FIGS. 5a and 5b , two of the four legs 22 of each shelf 16 havelocking buttons or tabs 24 and the other two legs have a locking recess26. In such a manner, the buttons 24 of two of the legs may be fit intocorresponding recesses 26 on legs 22 of the opposing shelf 16. Becauseeach shelf 16 is identical to the others, such tabs 24 and recesses 26will line up correctly when shelves 16 are inverted relative to oneanother. The arrangement of FIGS. 5a and 5b shows a first completedshelf level.

To begin the next level of arrangement 10, as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b ,another shelf 16 is stacked, legs 22 up, surface 20 down, onto thesurface 20 of previous shelf 16. In one embodiment, the surface ofshelves 16 include one edge tab 30 and one edge recess on the oppositeside of surface 20. As noted previously, shelves 16 are essentiallyidentical so when inverted relative to one another to start the nexttier, edge tab 30 of second shelf 16 will correspond to edge recesses 32of third shelf 16 so as to stably retain third shelf 16.

FIGS. 7a and 7b show multiple tiers of shelves 16 arranged into thesuccessive tiers of arrangement 10. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 7acap elements 40 may be placed on the edge of uppermost shelf 16 forproviding aesthetic effect (hiding the stacking edge of surface 20 oftop shelf 16). FIGS. 8a and 8b also show multiple tiers of shelves 16 ofarrangement 10 with a larger retail cap display 42, typically cardboard,that may be placed on the uppermost shelf 16 for added retailadvertisement.

Such an arrangement as shown and described provides a retail displayarrangement 10 that provides a full view of the products displayedthereon on surfaces 20 of shelves 16. The customer has 360 degree accessto the products on shelves 16.

Shelves 16 of display arrangement 10 are preferably vacuum/thermoformedformed recycled PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic but otherpolymers may be used depending on cost, stability, weight, andtransparency concerns. Arrangement 10 uses inexpensive vacuum formtooling with a quick to market manufacturing processes. Anotheradvantage of display arrangement 10 is that all components are snap/lockand can all fit within and be installed on top of the same box 12.

The thermoformed shelves 16 are designed to snap together and interlockas noted above with the combination of two shelves 16 (above and below)creating display tiers. This is repeated for each tier of the displaymaking arrangement 10 very easy to implement. The entire arrangement 10system comes packed in a corrugated plastic box 12 that may also be usedas a flood stand to elevate the bottom shelf for easier customer access.Once assembled cap 40 or advertisement display 42 is placed on the top,for example with the companies advertising information or a signreflecting the contents of display 10. Banners (not shown) can be placedbetween each shelf to highlight the products or re-enforce the corporatesponsor.

Display arrangement 10 may be sized to accommodate a large variety ofproducts, budgets, and the needs of both the marketing and salesdepartments. It can ship as a standard parcel via the USPC, UPS, orother carriers as standard overnight freight.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes orequivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore,to be understood that this application is intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An arrangement for product display, saidarrangement comprising: a plurality of substantially identicalthermoformed shelves, each constructed with a surface and four legs,wherein any two of said plurality of shelves are such that the four legsof any one shelf are constructed to mate with the four legs of any othershelf, wherein any two of said plurality of shelves are such that saidsurface of one shelf mates against said surface of another of any one ofsaid shelves, and wherein said arrangement is constructed with at leasttwo of said plurality of shelves are arranged leg to leg and at leasttwo of said plurality of shelves are arranged surface to surface.
 2. Thearrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surfaces of said shelvesare flat.
 3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shelvesare thermoformed.
 4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidshelves made of recycled PET.
 5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1,wherein said arrangement further includes a shipping and storage box,said box including a stabilization element, such that said box with saidstabilization unit form a base for said arrangement.
 6. The arrangementas claimed in claim 1, wherein two legs of each of said shelves includesa locking tab and wherein another two legs of a same shelf have twocorresponding locking recesses, such that when a shelf of say pluralityof shelves, is inverted and placed leg-to-leg against another of saidshelves, the two locking tabs of one of said shelves fit into saidlocking recesses of said other shelf and vise-versa.